{"id":295515,"date":"2023-11-17T17:31:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T17:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=295515"},"modified":"2023-11-17T17:31:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T17:31:13","slug":"wales-v-armenia-key-talking-points-as-rob-pages-side-face-crunch-qualifier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/wales-v-armenia-key-talking-points-as-rob-pages-side-face-crunch-qualifier\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales v Armenia: Key talking points as Rob Page\u2019s side face crunch qualifier"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wales play their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier in Armenia on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Automatic qualification is in Wales\u2019 own hands as two closing victories will book their place in Germany next summer.<\/p>\n

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the main talking points of the game in Yerevan.<\/p>\n

Deja vu<\/h2>\n

The parallels between Wales\u2019 successful Euro 2020 qualification and the current campaign are hard to resist.<\/p>\n

Wales reached Euro 2020 with a fast finish \u2013 holding 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia to a Cardiff draw before winning in Azerbaijan and downing Hungary after back-to-back summer defeats.<\/p>\n

Having suffered another pointless June and just beaten Croatia in Cardiff, Wales head to the Caucasus region again to take on Azerbaijan\u2019s neighbour Armenia before finishing with a visit from Turkey.<\/p>\n

Six more points will do.<\/p>\n

Brennan\u2019s back<\/h2>\n

The loss of Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson to injury last month was a big blow.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s pace and movement can trouble any defence, but boss Rob Page plugged the gap against Croatia by utilising a three-man forward line of David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore.<\/p>\n

All three performed superbly with Wilson claiming a match-winning double.<\/p>\n

Johnson is expected to return, however \u2013 possibly at the expense of Brooks \u2013 with Page also likely to use the pace of Daniel James from the bench.<\/p>\n

Midfield promise<\/h2>\n

There was much wailing in Wales when Joe Allen hung up his international boots following the World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n

Allen played a massive role over the last decade and midfield was seen as a problem area in the wake of his departure.<\/p>\n

But Ethan Ampadu, with nearly 50 caps at the age of 23, has shown his leadership qualities in striking up an effective partnership with 19-year-old Jordan James.<\/p>\n

The pair were magnificent in getting the better of Croatia\u2019s much-vaunted midfield last month.<\/p>\n

Repeat or revenge?<\/h2>\n

Wales have failed to beat Armenia in three meetings.<\/p>\n

There were two draws in 2002 World Cup qualifying, 2-2 in Yerevan when John Hartson scored a brace, before a goalless Cardiff clash.<\/p>\n

Wales were expected to breeze past Armenia \u2013 71 places below them on the FIFA rankings when they met in June \u2013 but a 4-2 defeat damaged their Euro 2024 qualification hopes.<\/p>\n

More than one Welsh player has mentioned avenging that loss in the build-up to the Yerevan return.<\/p>\n

Yellow peril<\/h2>\n

Defensive pair Chris Mepham and Neco Williams will be walking disciplinary tightropes in Armenia.<\/p>\n

Both players have picked up two bookings in the campaign, and a third would rule them out of Tuesday\u2019s final qualifier against Turkey.<\/p>\n

Wales have yet to lose any player to three bookings, although Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore served two-match bans for respective red cards against Turkey and Armenia in the summer.<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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